Is there any place to eat at Animal Kingdom anymore?

[BillSears]

I keep looking at the menus and so many places are closed now. I'd really like a table service lunch on my 2 AK days(8/31 and 9/7) but it looks like the only sit down restaurant is the Rainforest Cafe. I've got a Rainforest cafe about 10 miles from here and eat there often enough that the one in WDW doesn't seem very special.

I'm trying to avoid counter service places on this trip because I figure they'll be packed at lunch because of the free DDP. So I'm making ADRs for dinners and lunches. Right now I have no idea how to handle AK. My main reason for avoiding the CS is that I'm traveling solo and I use a wheelchair so no table saving for me and finding a table I can get to in a crowded CS location is tough.

 

[bekkiz]

Well, Rainforest Cafe has been the only TS at AK since it opened, if you don't include the character breakfast.

We really like Pizzafari as a CS (the italian deli sandwich is awesome) and there is a ton of seating, so even a busy Spring Break or June day, we didn't have a problem finding somehwere to sit. In fact, I'm not sure we've ever had to do the "I'll find a place, you go get the food" dance.

But AK does lack TS, for sure. The new Yak and Yeti that opens next year should help (not that that helps you for this trip )

 

[hildarumpole]

Animal Kingdom is definitely lacking in TS restaurants. The new Yak and Yeti isn't scheduled to open until sometime in October, so right now, the only option is Rainforest. If you're concerned about getting a table at a CS restaurant, you might try eating right when they open for lunch. We went to Tusker House at 11:00 and were the only people ordering at that time, so had our pick of seats. By 11:30, it was packed.

 

[hddanis]

Flame Tree BBQ has TONS of seating and there's a lot that's wheelchair accessible. We were there around 11-11:30.

I think I read that they're converting Tusker House into TS and they'll be opening the new Yak and Yeti as well.

Good luck!

 

[faindrops27]

Bill, Im sorry about your dileema. I was so looking forward to Tusker house. For, I have never tried it. Alas, it is closing. So, I started looking for other options. I see flame tree is the only option in AK. I of course did not want that for 2 days. So, I will board a bus at lunchtime to head over to Mara. I don't know if this would be to much of a hassle for you. But, I was thinking, it maybe be easier to tranverse. Plus it is air conditioned. Check out the menu, on allears to see if it may be worth it for you. HTH

 

[SnwflkCts]

I am sad too about Tusker House. It was very good. We did enjoy Flametree too. Plenty of seating at least!

Since we always eat TS dinner after AK (our routine is to eat at Kona after AK) I prefer a CS for lunch. There just isn't much to choose from yet at AK -- but things are changing fast!

 

[BillSears]

Thanks for the advice. I'm probably just worrying too much. It's all part of hanging out on the DISboards, you start seeing all of the horror stories and you overplan to make sure they don't happen to you. I'll probably be fine eating CS at opening and if it looks really bad I'll hop a bus over to a resort and grab lunch.

Making TS reservations for lunch and dinner has been fantastic! I rarely get to try out the lunch menus and this is letting me eat at twice the number of TS restaurants.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

its funny because every time we go to the ak. we have to eat at pizzafari....i dont know , its so cute we just really like it there. brings back memories when my dd's were younger..............

 

[Soubrette]

Bill, Im sorry about your dileema. I was so looking forward to Tusker house. For, I have never tried it. Alas, it is closing. So, I started looking for other options. I see flame tree is the only option in AK. I of course did not want that for 2 days. So, I will board a bus at lunchtime to head over to Mara. I don't know if this would be to much of a hassle for you. But, I was thinking, it maybe be easier to tranverse. Plus it is air conditioned. Check out the menu, on allears to see if it may be worth it for you. HTH

Great idea! I've heard they have some good salads.

 

[bradk]

?

in addition to flametree, there's pizzafari (which is not just pizza) and Y&Y will have a CS component as well. tusker switches over after Y&Y opens.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Last year we ate at Donald's Breakastsaurus at 8 and weren't hungry until late afternoon. Just an option.

 

[aubriee]

Another option beside Mara would be to catch a bus to CSR and eat at the Pepper Market. That's what I did this past May on one of my AK days. For a CS credit I was able to get a soda, rib eye steak with roasted veggies (also came with fries, but I didn't want them), and a trio platter of brownie, choc chip cookie, and churro. The DDP also included the tip they charge. It's the best CS buy with the DDP. My meal if I hadn't been on the DDP would have been $28.37 (not bad for a CS credit) They seat you and a waiter gets your drink while you go get your food. The waiter I had (Ben) was also very good at keeping my glass filled.

I'll be going back on my AK day when I go back Sept 29th-Oct 7th.